Reiterating that Sri Lanka would conduct a domestic probe in response to the release of the UN report into Sri Lanka’s atrocities, Mr Wickremesinghe added that an independent judiciary under Maithripala Sirisena meant that an international judicial process would not be needed.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader, Mr Wickremesinghe said,

“I have saved Mahinda Rajapaksa from the electric chair and ICC (International Criminal Court) since we have not signed Rome Statute. He should always be grateful to me for that. No one can take our soldiers to ICC. But wherever a soldier commits a crime and an issue pertaining to the reputation of our armed forces, it is an offence punishable both under our domestic common law system as well as the military law. Therefore we don’t need ICC or any international probe. We have firmly stood by the premise that no international probe can be initiated since we are not a signatory to the Rome Statute and so we will have our own domestic mechanism instead.”

The ITJP will release a report that expands on a previous study entitled “

The right to autonomy will not be granted in Sri Lanka, said a senior government minister when responding to questions regarding claims by the Tamil National Alliance that a United National Front (UNF) government would grant Tamils self-rule.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) election manifesto, released today, called for constitutional changes that accept the Tamil people's entitlement to their right to self-determination under the United Nations International Covenants on Civil political rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICCPR).

TNA launches manifesto in Jaffna     Photograph:Tamil Guardian

Noting that any political solution should accept the Tamil people’s right to self-determination and that Sri Lanka had ratified the international treaty, the TNA election manifesto, said:

“The Tamil People are entitled to the right to self-determination in keeping with the United Nations International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Sri Lanka has accepted and acceded to.”

Sri Lanka’s new government has approved a proposal to conduct a feasibility study that looks to construct a naval base at the Hambantota port.

Sri Lankan army strengthens High Security Zone in Valikaamam North (22 Jul 2015)

Sri Lankan Army demolishing civilian homes in Vali North (16 Jun 2015)

Sri Lanka's army 'categorically denies' closing down 59 military camps in North-East  (16 Jun 2015)

We have not removed a single army camp from North – Minister  (15 Jun 2015)

Military camps in Jaffna needed for ‘national security’ says army commander (11 Jun 2015)

Sri Lankan military continues to build Buddhist temples in North-East (10 Jun 2015)

Silent war against Tamils through Sri Lanka's military occupation finds US think-tank (28 may 2015)

(Photos: Tamil Guardian)

The massacre of thousands of Tamils at the hand of Sinhala mobs, known as Black July, was marked on its 32nd anniversary with a vigil outside Downing Street in London.

British Tamils gathered outside the prime minister's residence and lit candles in remembrance of those who died in 1983.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe handed a copy of the United National Party (UNP) manifesto to the head monk of the Buddhist Maha Sangha at the UNP official manifesto launch on Thursday.

Whilst outlining UNP plans to create a society that would have a "competitive economy and safeguard the equal rights of the people," the prime minister assured the audience that Buddhism "would be given its foremost place."

The deputy foreign minister of Sri Lanka has ruled out a federal setup for Sri Lanka.

The European Union’s ban on imports of fish caught in Sri Lanka has caused losses in revenue totalling $75m since January, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne.

The EU, which is the largest export market for the island’s fisheries industry, brought in the ban for the government’s failure to crack down on illegal fishing.

Ms Colonne said on Wednesday, the government has been taking steps to address the issues, including are fitting vessel monitoring systems on high sea fishing vessels, maintaining and updating a register of high sea fishing licenses, banning vessels using harmful fishing methods and prosecuting those found to be fishing illegally.